What is summer for if not for reading? That’s my opinion, anyway! I love spending summer nights on the patio, book in one hand, glass of wine in the other, with the herd lounging around. That, to me, is peace. Luckily, I happened to get a handful of books to review toward the beginning of the summer, and now that it’s coming to a close (seriously, HOW is tomorrow August?) I wanted to share four new books I’ve enjoyed.

Without further ado: Four books to round out your summer reading list! And if you’ve read anything great lately (dog-related or not!), I’d LOVE to know in the comments. My “to read” list is never long enough!

For the kids

Lola is a five-pound Yorkshire Terrier and a certified therapy dog. Her little brother–though he’s bigger, he’s younger–tattles on her for making mistakes throughout this charming book. Zeke tells on his sister Lola throughout but learns his lesson toward the end. I love how the illustrations are photographs of the two siblings; it’s a cute and clever way to teach about tattling. Author Marcia Goldman has a master’s degree in special education, and she uses her expertise to add a ton of value to this story. The back pages include a curriculum guide with questions and activities to accompany the book. Even if you’re not using in a classroom but reading it at home with your kiddo, those questions and activities would be a really fun way to spark a discussion about tattling. Loved this sweet book! To buy Lola and Tattletale Zeke.

For the science lover

I’m pretty obsessed with reading animal behavior books. It’s fascinating to learn how other animals learn. This book did not disappoint in that regard. It’s full of insights, data, case studies, and history on how dog training has evolved. I will say, though, that you have to be dedicated to excavating those gems as you read. The author is hugely fond of lengthy asides and footnotes that are often unrelated to the topic at hand. It actually took me ages to finish this, even though I’m a fast reader and it’s a passion subject for me. That said, I gained a ton of insights into human behavior from this. Toward the end of the book, she draws parallels between what we’ve learned in animal behavior and the flaws in how we “treat” human behavior (using schools and prisons as examples). I definitely recommend this one because there are tons of great insights, lots of valuable historical data, gobs of fascinating passages… but don’t take this one to the beach. I’d suggest dipping in and out to see what you glean. To buy The Secret History of Kindness: Learning from How Dogs Learn.

For the sense of humor

Author Angie Salisbury’s two German Shorthaired Pointers narrate this cute little self-help-style book (Two Dog’s Training Guide for Humans is the subtitle!). It’s a super fast read–count on one or two sittings–filled with silly and sweet advice from her pups that she then translates at the bottom of each page. Some of my favorites include “There’s enough love to go around,” “Be silly for no reason,” and “Warm your belly in the sun.” Plus, pictures of the pups Bimmer and Bertram are sprinkled throughout, and they are seriously adorable dogs. This is definitely a book that will put a smile on dog-obsessed faces. To buy Dogs Know Best.

For everyone–absolutely everyone

I am obsessed with narrative nonfiction. When it’s done well, when a true story reads like a novel, I’m riveted. It’s not an easy genre to write–I spent two years working on it in my master’s degree program–but when it’s done well, it’s captivating. This is one of those books. Dr. V, who you might know from Pawcurious, crafts her veterinary memoir to read like the perfect beach book. It’s equal parts tear-jerker and laugh-out-loud. Honestly, anyone whose life has ever been touched by a dog will be touched by this book. If you only have time to read one book for the rest of the summer, make it this one. To buy All Dogs Go to Kevin: Everything Three Dogs Taught Me (That I Didn’t Learn in Veterinary School).

And… guess what!!!

I have one of each of these four books to give away! Taa-daaa!

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You know how much we love books around here! I had the opportunity to check out a sweet children’s book, A Dog Dreams of Paris, written by Barbara Barth. Now, since I’m not a children’s book expert, I had my ridiculously adorable nephew and his pups check it out on my behalf.

They look like they’re riveted, huh? And how cute, right?!

Anyway, when they reached out about sending a copy for review (and giveaway!), I also got the chance to ask the author a few questions. Since this is a dog-centric book, I thought it would be fun to learn about her dog April and how she went “from rescue dog to diva.”

We’d love to learn more about sweet April and how she inspired you to write this book!

April was dog number six in this household. She came from the same rescue group as Rascal, who joined my household New Year’s Eve Day. My thoughts on a bleak holiday came down to this . . . can’t get a date, get a dog! I had a hard time looking at Petfinder online trying to decide on Rascal or April, but Rascal’s mismatched eye color won me over. I couldn’t forget April’s photo, however. The next week I decided April had to come, too. She was shy and kept her distance from the other dogs, including her old pen buddy Rascal. I renamed her Miss April in Paris and during a photo shoot placed a vintage pink chapeau with a large pink rose on her head. She took to the hat and posed for me. The placement of that hat and the attention she received as I took her photos, helped bring her out of her shell. I decided she would have her own blog (in 2010) about her dreams of going to Paris. The blog turned out to be a good thing. I had self-published my memoir, The Unfaithful Widow, and was on my first blog tour with WOW Women on Writing. One of the stops on the tour was Tilly the Dog in England. My post had to be written from the dog’s viewpoint, so Miss April in Paris wrote about her blog. I kid that she has not made it to Paris, but she did a brief stint in England. Shortly after the blog stopped, but the idea to have a small book and expand her diary stayed with me. This year I decided to make it happen. I was getting ready for hip replacement surgery and needed to feel a sense of accomplishment before I had my surgery and something to look forward to while I did my physical therapy, which is this tour once again with WOW!

I saw that a portion of all book sales will be donated to animal rescue. Which rescue will benefit from your book sales?

I launched the book in May, right before my surgery, with all profits for sales in May to go to Friends of DeKalb Animals (FODA). I am very familiar with this group and it seemed like a good starting place. My plan is to be able to do book signings at dog events and other local events and ear mark profits for the local rescue groups that brought me my dear dogs! In addition, the book is available at my wholesale cost for rescue groups who want to use them for their own fund raising events. They just have to contact me to work out details. I donated copies of April’s book to Atlanta Canine Adoption Project (ACAP) the group that brought me Rascal and Miss April in Paris as a thank you. I am still on my walker from my surgery, so my book signing plans are on hold til the end of summer. Of course, readers can buy April’s story on Amazon and rest assured the profits will go to animal shelters. I’ve always donated to animal charities, if not money, auction items, especially when I had my antique shop. I wish I could give more. I hope my book will do just that as time goes by and folks learn about A Dog Dreams of Paris.

Does Miss April have any plans for future adventures?

April is content with her fame at the moment. But I have five other dogs with dreams of their own. That’s a lot of material to work with! I also plan on finishing my dog memoir this year, on life with a six-pack at home. April will be a big part of that story, too!

For any readers who think their dogs might have a story to tell, too, what advice would you share?

I am a blog freak, and would tell anyone with a dog to start a blog. I have way too many blogs, from sharing stories of my dogs, to my own dreams of owning a farmhouse. I use my blogs as writing journals, complete with photos. When I need material for a book, I can pull from my posts. It is a great place to put your thoughts together, share on social media, and then decide if you want to expand to a book. I love small books, too. A perfect format for a dog’s story.

Thank you, Barbara, for taking the time to share about your book, April, and what’s to come! So fun, right?

And, thanks to her generosity, one of YOU has the opportunity to win a copy of A Dog Dreams of Paris for yourself! This is a Rafflecopter giveaway. The widget will load below (sometimes it takes a second). If you’re reading this via email or through a feed, you might have to click the link.a Rafflecopter giveaway

Well, here it is: The final day of this year’s holiday gift guide and giveaway extravaganza! What a week! If you’ve missed any of the previous days’ gift recommendations and giveaways, be sure to visit: play, eat, eco-friendly, gifts that give back, for the pet lover, and gifts for cats. All the giveaways close on Thanksgiving, so get those entries in!

I am a book fiend. I adore books, and I think all the gift books that come out at the holiday season are so fun. Today, I’m sharing with you six perfectly giftable books for the pet lover (or yourself).

100 Reasons to Panic About Being a Cat Lady

This darling little gift book tackles the truth about being a cat lover… the good and the bad! The pages are silly and sweet, each with a reason to panic, followed by a disclaimer of why that reason is actually great. Totally tongue-in-cheek. For example: Reason #84. Your cat-less friends just don’t understand how hard it is to raise cats. (They also don’t understand unconditional love, the poor things.) Or Reason #20. A cute kitten can turn into an ugly cat. (But she’ll be your ugly cat.) For the cat lover who has everything, this would be a delightful stocking stuffer and conversation starter. To buy: $10 from Knock Knock AND! Huge bonus! Use code OHMYDOG14 for 20% off any order on knockknockstuff.com and plumbgoods.com (expires 2014-12-20)

How to Have a Very Bad Dog

You guys, this book is hysterical. Also from Knock Knock, this little guide combines training and dog-raising tips with a totally humorous bent. Perfect for the jokester or for anyone who has a deep appreciation for sarcasm! Here’s one of my favorite passages, excerpted from the chapter called, “Very Bad Behavior Modification”: (click to enlarge)

So, so funny! The book is filled with that type of “advice,” designed to tell you what NOT to do to raise a “VBD.” This would make an excellent gift for a trainer with a sense of humor! To buy: $11 from Knock Knock and the bonus applies here, too! Use code OHMYDOG14 for 20% off any order on knockknockstuff.com and plumbgoods.com (expires 2014-12-20)

Biscuit for Your Thoughts?

This hardcover gift book pairs aphorisms that every dog lover will relate to with darling photographs of dogs by photographer Andrew Darlow. While I was flipping through it, I decided to take pics of my favorite spreads to share here to give you an idea of the contents. After a few pages, I realized I was taking pictures of them all! I narrowed it down to two, though: (click to enlarge)

Tell me this isn’t just me, but I love to color. It’s relaxing and just plain fun. Coloring these wildlife-inspired designs, though, is designed to be a mindful activity. According to the publisher, “From the Sanskrit word for ‘circle,’ mandalas have been used for meditation and healing for thousands of years.” Plus, you get to color! The coloring pages include butterflies, tigers, swans, and – my favorite! – unicorns, among others. Each page is intricately detailed and definitely takes time to finish, but the pictures are all so pretty after. This would be a great gift for a creative animal lover, and I think it would be a fun stocking stuffer, perhaps with a big box of colored pencils, for a teenager, too. To buy: $8.82 for Coloring Animal Mandalas* ON SALE (normally $10)

JJ Goes to Puppy Class

In the sequel to the heartwarming book JJ The American Street Dog by Diane Rose-Solomon, sweet pup JJ has a few pesky puppy behaviors. The family takes JJ to puppy class to work positively on things like potty training and jumping. Throughout the book, the mom links JJ’s training with things that children can understand and relate to, like, “Mom said, “Just like you like to play with your friends sometimes, and
other times you prefer to have quiet time in your room. Puppies need to have quiet time too.” The colorful illustrations perfectly accompany the story – and I, for one, really hope there will be a third installment in the JJ series some day! This is the perfect gift for any child who lives with or loves dogs! To buy: Visit SOP3 Publishing

Little Darling’s Pinups for Pitbulls

Rounding out the perfect holiday books for animal loves is, of course, Little Darling’s Pinups for Pitbulls 10th anniversary hardback book. It’s a gorgeous, full-color collection of stories and photographs from years of creating the calendar and advocating for pit-bull-type dogs. Plus, get tons of behind-the-scenes stories and pics, including one from the shoot that Emmett and I got to do! This is a must-have book for all animal lovers, especially since it supports such a critical mission. To buy: $27.95 from Pinups for Pitbulls

And now YOU have the chance to win these fabulous holiday gift books! This is a Rafflecopter giveaway. The widget should load below in a few seconds, or if you’re reading via email or feed, you may have to click the link. Oddly enough, the widget design changed since yesterday, so now you have to scroll through to see the prizes, but don’t worry! It’s all there. Winners will be drawn and notified on Friday, November 28. Good luck!

Well, folks! That’s a wrap on the 2014 holiday gift guide and giveaway extravaganza! (Unless you’re a newsletter subscriber… you have more to come if you’re on the list!) We’ve had seven full days of awesome pet products. If you haven’t yet entered any of the giveaways, you have until Thanksgiving. Winners will be drawn and notified on Black Friday!

Disclaimer: We didn’t receive any compensation for this guide, though some of these brands sent products for our consideration. Not all made the cut! The ones here are ones we really, truly love. Any link followed by an asterisk (*) means it’s an affiliate link – you won’t pay a single extra penny if you purchase through those links, but OMD! will receive a tiny bit of commission, which we use to offset the costs of producing this guide! Questions? Send me an email: info {at} ohmydogblog {dot} com.

Howdy, folks! John here. When Maggie received a copy of Dean Koontz’s new book Ask Anna (co-written by his adorable golden retriever, Anna) I snatched it from her. I’m a HUGE Dean Koontz fan. I love all of his books. Every. Single. One. He’s such a fantastic story-teller. He writes suspenseful books with interesting, relatable characters. Most of the time, though, the best characters are the dogs. He wrote a book several years ago about his dog Trixie who was a retired service dog, from whom he learned a lot about humanity and the inherent goodness of dogs.

Anyway, the book is a collection of letters written by dogs to Anna asking for advice. I’m not typically one who enjoys reading things written from the dog’s perspective. It tends to be too cutesy for me. However, the letters written to Anna, and her responses, are exactly how I imagine dogs conversing. For all of their nobility, gentleness, understanding, forgiving, and unconditional compassion, dogs are incredibly goofy creatures. The eat, smell, roll in, and just overall enjoy some very odd things. Regardless of the question, Anna has very sage, dog-like advice.

For example:

Charmin: “I love to shred these rolls of paper. I love to unravel one through the house and then follow it back, pretending I’m Hansel and Gretel, escaping along our marked trail through the woods, the evil witch close behind us. I love to sneak out at night to decorate the neighbors’ trees and shrubbery with one. Is this wrong?”

Anna: “It is so right that I don’t have the words to express how right it is. But please tell me you never drink from the toilet.”

How great is that? She tells Huckleberry, the beagle who steps on his ears when he’s sniffing, to act like a cat falling off a window sill and “pretend the dumb move was intentional.” She suggests that Cutie in Cleveland, who wants to get a job, to audition for the next Star Wars movie because Yoda has poor syntax, no fur, and “looks like a wrinkled turnip.”

This book is whimsical, entertaining, and will make think more about some of the things your pup does. The pictures are great, the advice sound, and the message clear. Dogs are silly and thoughtful, and that’s why we love them so much.

One last amazing note about this book is that 100% of what Dean Koontz receives from the sale of this book will be donated to Canine Companions for Independence, the nonprofit group that trains service dogs for individuals with disabilities. Also, Anna states up front that she is being paid in sausages.

And now you have a chance to win a copy! (Sorry, international folks, this one is U.S. only.)

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Oh, how I love books. I really feel like books are the things that would keep me from ever achieving a fully-uncluttered, minimal home – but they’re so, so worth it. And even better? Beautiful books that feature dogs. I was lucky enough to receive two such books simultaneously, so for today, I’m sharing two dog books I’m loving, and – thanks to the generosity of each of their publishers – you have a chance to win a copy! So, without delay, let’s get to the book!

Dogs Rule Nonchalantly

By Mark Ulriksen

Several years ago, I clipped off the cover of an issue of The New Yorker that I just adored. It’s been in my office ever since, and every time I look at it, I smile. So, imagine how thrilled I was to receive a review copy of this book – only to find the exact illustration tucked into the work. And, of course, the darling illustration is accompanied by darling text that only enhances it!

I adore that picture! In fact, I had admired his work in my subscription to The New Yorker without ever realizing or acknowledging that all the work I loved was from this one artist!

Each page features a whimsical illustration faced by sweet scrawled sayings. My favorite line in the entire book: “There’s nothing happier than a happy dog.” I enjoy the artist’s style. It’s neither serious nor silly, though he captures the essence of dogs so perfectly.

And, more than that, the relationship between dogs and us. One of my other favorites:

My snapshots don’t do it justice. I truly loved this book, and it’s one I imagine sitting out in our living room so that I can pick it up, flip through, and smile! It comes out in a few days, but you can pre-order on Amazon. Check out the artist’s website. This book is a gem!

(See how you can win a copy of your very own below!)

Lessons in Balance: A Dog’s Reflections on Life

by Scout, star of Stuff on Scout’s Head

Now, this little book is just darn cute. Scout was adopted as a fearful, unsocial fellow. I had heard of the blog Stuff on Scout’s Head and encountered it in anti-BSL circles. Scout, a pit, has an innate ability to balance things on his darling head. The blog chronicled the various objects he balanced, and it’s been turned into the book, Lessons in Balance. (Check out the website to see Scout balancing – what else? – copies of his recently released book!)

This spread really spoke to Emmett. He felt Scout was attempting the impossible here! 🙂

Scout’s person Jen strives to educate her readers about BSL and the importance of rescue. Scout was mistreated but flourished after he got his second chance. I think all of us can relate to and appreciate that story. Jen’s creativity, though, is what makes Scout’s story so memorable. This dog can seriously balance ANYTHING on his head. Flipping through the text is such a joy, and I guarantee that you will be laughing on nearly every single page. See?

If you want even more peaks into what Scout balances, click on the link to her website above (also, you can order yourself a copy of the book from there). The stack of pancakes?! Chatter teeth!? I mean, COME ON! It’s way too stinking cute.

Combine the “awe” factor with the anti-BSL and pro-rescue messages, and this book hits on all of my favorite things!

I think both of these books will sit perfectly side-by-side in the living room so that we can flip through them regularly to laugh, smile, and be inspired.

I’m seriously feeling so lucky that I got to review both of these at the same time. True gems! Now, YOU have the opportunity to win one of these two phenomenal books. They’re both fantastic additions to any dog-lover’s shelf.

This is a Rafflecopter giveaway. The widget should load below in a couple seconds, but if you’re reading via email or a feed reader, you may have to click the link below. Normally, with these Rafflecopter giveaways, I just do a free one-click to enter. But since there are two books, there are two changes: the freebie click and a comment!